Excavation in rock without explosives?

In the old days they would build a huge fire over the rock and get it really hot for a fe w hours,  and then move off the burning fire and douse the rock with cold water.  This would shatter the rock as hard as granite.   Then pound away at the weakened rock.  

Repeat and repeat and repeat.   

Remember in Egypt all they had for tools was Copper tools which is soft.  They managed to carve out  granite obelisks out of the ground with the basics of tools=none

They had many sunny days and everyone was working on their tan....while working for pay.(lower taxes)

yes but is will cost you alot more to break up the rock .

yes so what about it ??  A large jackhammer on the arm of an excavator is used to break the rock 

Bad Idea Bombs explosives are always need to break rocks

what are you taking over this whole site

rock breaker, rock hammer

They make all sort of machines for that.  Hydraulic drills and so forth. 

There is only one way to rock.